Note #1: I want to give a huge shout out to the members who did such a great job locating everything in this episode (Really almost every single thing). I will try and give credit to the things I remember, but if I slight you I apologize upfront. I am always amazed at how much work and time you put into everything from finding a specific side of a building to figuring relations to other locations, airplane schedule to every stinking city in the world, to local customs and animal husbandry. Thanks from me, at many other readers and lurkers.

Okay enough sucking up to the people who actually do the work here. :lies:

Note #2: Due to the fast paced nature of a one-hour episode, the show doesn’t give me as much footage as I would like. So if list are incomplete, it is due to lack of footage (or incompetence, your choice).

Note #3: This is a work in progress, I am going to go to bed, I will finish tomorrow and also post the new elimination thread for episode #2.

Phil in LA, the gateway to porn (thank god for LA), leading us to the starting point of this season the Playboy Mansion (Slowhatch & Kogs, and I wonder how they figured it out so quick….. ) where 11 teams, 11 legs (damn you CBS, damn you to HELL) will race around the world. 8 will be discarded like yesterday’s news. The first one to cross the finish line will win 1 million dollars.

Ready, Set…(where’s the eye brow Phil)….Go.

Teams rush to their packs and open the first clue, that directs them to Shannon (also known as Shannon Town) Ireland.

Teams must drive provided cars to LAX (You knew that Peach…)

And for the first time ever, it isn’t the first team to a car that is the first one out. Cars are parked in a row on a one way.

Teams must make their way to the Ferry in Rossaveal. Where they will take the Aran Island Ferries to Inis Mor and find Teampall Bheanain, considered to be the world’s smallest church. Once there they will sign up for one of three departure times.

All teams make the ferry and travel to Inis Mor, where they get directions from locals, all but Nicolas & Donald, Marianna & Julia and Ronald & Christina are given accurate directions along the Coast Road.

On the jog to Tempall Bheanain, we get are first couple blowout of the season (Yeah….) between Nathan & Jennifer.

Teams must drive themselves 42 miles to Cleggan Farm. Once there they will ride a tandem bicycle along a muddy trail to find their next clue. This by the way is damn cool. Look how much Rachel was swaying under TK.

Teams get to the route marker, and it is a roadblock.Roadblock – High-Wire Bike“Whose ready to pedal for their partner?”In this roadblock the team member must choose 1 of 2 high-wire bicycles and ride it across this wide swept ravine, suspended nearly 200 ft over the Cleggen Bay while their partner is setting 8 ft below along for the ride.

Teams must now choose a Donkey from the hitching post and fill each one of its baskets with 15 pieces of peat. They then must walk their donkey back to the entrance of the farm where they will receive their next clue.

mswood, an excellent leg 1 report. I would like to suggest the mildest addition to your phrase "suspended nearly 200 ft over the North Atlantic". After "over" I would like you to insert the words "Cleggan Bay,". My geography reseearch indicates that the coastal area Cleggan Farm abuts is called Cleggan Bay.

Thanks so much for doing this for us--I always look forward to the summary, the humor, and the resource that this is every week!

The CBS recap site does say that it was Jennifer who did the roadblock (of Shana/Jennifer).

And this Interview with Ari/Staella had some interesting facts: It was 2 miles of donkey walking, they weren't allowed to switch donkeys, and they were out there for 7 hours trying to get their donkey to go!

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And this Interview with Ari/Staella had some interesting facts: It was 2 miles of donkey walking, they weren't allowed to switch donkeys, and they were out there for 7 hours trying to get their donkey to go!

1. Azaria & Hendekea: When you start out with the were smarter then everyone else, I tend to hate you (even if its accurate). But you were nice to other teams, you did use your brains in ordering a cab for yourself, and checking out maps in advance. You did well navigating (outside of LA), and more importantly remembering landmarks and areas you had been earlier. A very good leg, with only some minor problems.

2. Kynt & Vyxsin: I admit, you surprised me. You did well on the running. You were good at keeping your spirits up when the Bike was broken (though at the time you did have an hour and a half lead, so that does help for stress). You also were wise to quickly lighten your packs. Another good leg.

3. TK & Rachel: Damn TK, just calm down and relax, dude. I love this teams energy and attitude. A nice team so far, very friendly and open. We need teams like these to last and not be first out. (imagine season 6 if Kris & Jon were out early, yikes). Good performance, for the most part. And a nice job catching your error and following the others to the Pit Stop.

4. Lorena & Jason: At first look I saw Hayden & Aaron, from season 6. A team with a female partner that was cool when things were going good, but who would loose it quick. But while that does appear true. Jason seems far less caring then Aaron. The team does well, but suffers greatly when they make one of the most common mistakes. Not listening to the navigator. Its one thing if your partner isn't going to drive or navigate to following your gut. But it appears that Lorena was navigating and they lost a considerable amount of time, by not listening to her. At worst, when that happens immediately pull over and confirm with a local. And while Jason was absolutely wrong for not listening, damn Lorena, that shrill would make me not listen too. Question, which came first, the boyfriend who doesn't listen, or the girlfriends Shrill? You lost over half an hour. Probably 40 minutes and in the second half of the leg, that isn't good. You did really well for the rest of the leg, though.

5. Nicolas & Donald: Now I love teams that aren't common and this is the first Grandparent, grandchild team, and they did fine, nothing great, but nothing awful either. Their biggest mistakes were following in LA and following inaccurate directions from a local. And I can't really fault that. But I really don't have any feel for this team yet.

6. Shana & Jennifer: The blonde's, the pornstars, the Farrah's. Sorry, while you ended in OK position for the first leg, for the most part you were in the tail end. It was only being able to do the Donkey Walk that let you pass several other racers. You are more Megan & Heidi then Dustin & Kandice.

7. Ronald & Christina: Boy, two flats at one time. Ronald needs to learn to drive. And while they worked well with each other (and other teams) they also seem to have an undercurrent of lack of trust( or a fear of not living up to the other). But unlike some, I hope they can work through that. Its nice to see a father daughter team (Where's Wally).

8. Kate & Pat: Its about time we have a team of Lesbians. But this is another team that I think is soon to depart. And while they said they weren't wimps for Jesus they had an opportunity to not help a team (Ronald & Christina) and choose to help. This isn't the type of attitude that helps you win legs usually, especially with you being in the back of the pack for almost the whole leg. I think leg three is all they wrote.

9. Marianna & Julia: Damn its nice to see some dark haired ladies on the race, but really they performed across the board (minus getting to the airport) poorly. They were slow going from points A to B. They appear to have had a hard time with the donkey as well. Without being exposed to much of the real spoilers of the race (concerning who makes it where as opposed to where teams are going, I honestly think they will be out next leg.

10. Nathan & Jennifer: The typical fighting couple. With both moments of tenderness and shouting and name calling at each other. They also did strong for the navigation, they performed the roadblock quite quickly, but they had problems with longer distance running and their lack of patience with each other probably hurt their ability to maneuver the donkey. But this type of team usually does well. They should be here for a while.

11. Ari & Staella: Jesus what asses. They actually for the most part ran an good leg. But their inability to handle the donkey, killed them. Whether they tried cool and calm (which is possible), I don't know. But by far, their behavior was inappropriate and I don’t see how they thought it would help get the task completed. Handlers telling them they are stressed (the Donkey) and not comprehending that their behavior and language was what was causing them to be stressed is just shocking. If they really were there for 7 hours, then that Donkey needs the vacation to Portugal more then they do.